Frustrated!!

[john b]

In or around 2006 i donated blood,and a week later i got a letter saying that i tested positive for hep C. I was devastated!! But i also went into denial mode. I just acted like it never existed and as i did research and found out that most people don't experience symptoms until years later i denied it even more. Fast forward 2013 i started having severe itching over my whole body. The kind of itch that doesn't go away until blood has been drawn. After the itch is sever inflammation and burning. I tried everything only to have it re appear worse and worse. The doctor keeps telling my its eczema and giving me a steroid dose that after it wares off my situation gets worse. I am very frustrated i can't sleep with this and it has taken away from my quality of life.
        I have now come to the conclusion on my own that it may be my liver function. I plan to get tested soon,however i just lost my job and so that leads me to two questions. (1) Is it impossible to get adequate care for this without insurance. (2) Has anyone had or known anyone who has had SEVERE SEVERE skin issues and itching from lack of liver function. I would appreciate anyone input on the itching as it relates to the malfunction of the liver. I know that i need to quickly get tested and work on becoming free of this,however my skin is absolutely driving me crazy,I'm hoping I'm on track by eliminating the hep c my liver will function normal and ill stop itching.

[Philadelphia]

well, it could be itching from raised bilirubin levels related to your liver, but you are going to need a blood test to find out.

I cant offer any wisdom about the US health care system as I'm in Australia sorry.

[Soul-ution09]

Hi john b,
This is my 1st time log in and my 1st post. I have recently been diagnosed with hcv and can tell you that i had been experiencing off again on again itchy rashes, mostly around the back hip area. When right after my diagnosis (I have had to have this monster for at least 20 years) one of those little itchy areas decided to extend over my entire upper torso. It was itchy with or without a rash and burned and itched and burned more then more itch. It was relentless and got so bad it turned to a fungus infection on top of the rash.
At first I thought I had some kind of human skin parasite, and became certain that I had pick it up from my dog (even though my dog had zero symptoms suggesting she had no bugs).
I was obsessed and before allowing my sanity to all but dissappear, I finally went to my Dermatologist. Well, that was a joke as he concluded it was all due to my arthritic back. That did nothing for my crashing brain waves, and I was even more convinced I had something not yet recorded in the medical data base. I refused to take the steroids or cortisone, as  they would do nothing but mask the problem and make it worse.
So I went to a different dermatologist at a Cancer center and after being examined, I happened to mention my hep c diagnosis. Her reaction was one that would clearly explain the cause of all the itchy rashes, and had everything to do with my liver not being able to filter the toxins going through my system effectively, so toxins were being expelled through my skin. I have had to do, as best I can, a total detox to clean out my system. And, lo and behold, the 'bugs' started going away. I still have small itchy patches, and a whole lot of scarring. But my misery has finally returned me some peace.
What helps me alot is drinking a couple ounces each day of raw apple cider vinegar and staying well moisturized inside and out. Best of luck to you, on the journey back out.